Time indication apparatus

ABSTRACT

A time indication apparatus wherein a first plurality of first indication elements made of, for example, liquid crystal are arranged at intervals on a temporarily drawn loop line on a display panel and in directions radially extending from the center of a space defined by the loop line to constitute a first indication section for effecting analogue hour indication; and a plurality of second indication elements are arranged on lines extending in the identical radial directions at the peripheral portion of said first indication section, said second indication elements respectively corresponding to each of said plurality of first indication elements to form a second indication section. The first and second indication seconds cooperate for effecting analogue minute indication. The first and second indication sections are driven by minute and hour outputs generated from digitally driven time counting means so as to perform analogue hour and minute indications.

United States Patent 91 Kashio TIME INDICATION APPARATUS [75] Inventor: Toshio Kashio, Tokyo, Japan [73] Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Tokyo,

Japan 221 Filed: Mar. 6, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 448,515

[4 1 Oct. 29, 1974 Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-U. Weldon Attorney, Agent, or FirmFlynn & Frishauf [5 7] ABSTRACT A time indication apparatus wherein a first plurality of first indication elements made of, for example, liquid crystal are arranged at intervals on a temporarily drawn loop line on a display panel and in directions radially extending from the center of a space defined by the loop line to constitute a first indication section for effecting analogue hour indication; and a plurality of second indication elements are arranged on lines extending in the identical radial directions at the peripheral portion of said first indication section, said second indication elements respectively corresponding to each of said plurality of first indication elements to form a second indication section. The first and second indication seconds cooperate for effecting analogue minute indication. The first and second indication sections are driven by minute and hour outputs generated from digitally driven time counting means so as to perform analogue hour and minute indications.

10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures CONTROL CIRCUIT CARRY 46 SIGNAL FIG.

FEGE

-BUFF R 44 REGISETER 43 ADDER' CLOCK PULSE GENERATOR saw w 2 REGISTER PATENTE- SET 29 E974 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a time indication apparatus wherein indication elements made of, for example, liquid crystal for hour and minute indications are arranged on a display panel.

Generally, time indication of a usual clock apparatus is effected in an analogue manner by causing short and long hands to be moved so as to display the hour and minute, respectively. In this case, it is necessary to transmit electrical time counting signals from the time counting section to the time indication section and thereafter convert the signals into the mechanical movements of the short and long hands, resulting in a complicated structure of the clock apparatus. Further, where transmission of time counting signals is temporarily interrupted due, for example, to interruption of the power supply, the operation of the time indication section is stopped during said interruption. Even if the time counting section continues its exact time counting by means of, for example, a power stoppage-free device, an exact time indication fails to be continuously performed when the power source is recovered. In view of the above, in some clock apparatus, time counting signals from a time counting means are used as digital signals, and the time indication section is designed to carry out digital time indication upon receipt of said digital signals. To read the time, however, analogue indication is sensuously preferred to digital indication, and particularly where such a clock apparatus is hung, for example, in a large meeting hall and read from far, it is easier to judge the analogue-displayed time than to judge the digitally displayed time. Furthermore, the analogue indication clock apparatus also has the merit of satisfying a time readers taste and sense by selecting the designs of respective indication elements for time and minute indications on the display panel.

Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a time indication apparatus wherein indication elements are selectively driven by time counting signals from a time counting means, thereby to effect analogue time indication.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION For attaining the above-mentioned object, this invention is constructed such that a plurality of first indication elements (for example, 60 rectangular indication elements made of, for example, liquid crystal) are arranged at a loop line on a display panel and are oriented in directions radially extending from the center of a space defined by the loop line to form a first indication section; and a plurality of second indication elements (for example, 60 indication elements) corresponding to said respective first indication elements are complicated transmission mechanism from the time counting section to the time indication section by using indication elements, for example, liquid crystal, which are responsive to digital time counting signals from the time counting means and yet performing analogue time indication by appropriate arrangement of such indication elements. The invention is further characterized by enabling a time readers taste and sense to be satisfied from the standpoint of design by varying the arrangement of said first and second indication elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows the construction of an indication section and time counting section according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram illustrating a time counting section according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a block circuit diagram illustrating a time counting section according to another embodiment of the invention; and

FIGS. 4A to 4D show arrangements of indication elements, illustrating time indication sections according to other embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIG. 1, indication elements 11a, 11b, each assuming a rectangular shape, for example, 60 liquid crystals, are radially arranged in a substantially circular form on a circular indication panel 10. These 60 indication elements constitute a first indication section 12 which forms a short hand hour indication section for making hourly indication for every five indication elements derived from dividing the 60 indication elements into equal 12 parts.

Sixty rectangular indication elements 13a, 13b, are radially arranged at intervals at the peripheral portion of said first indication section 12 and in corresponding one-to-one relationship to said respective rectangular indication elements to constitute a second indication section 14. Each of these 60 elements performs minute indication, and when any one of the indication elements l3a, 13b, has been selected, that indication element of said first indication section 12 which corresponds to the selected element is selectively driven, thereby forming a long hand with the indication elements of said first and second indication sections 12 and 14 so as to carry out minute indication. For example, when, as shown in FIG. 1, an indication element A of the first indication section 12, an indication element C of the second indication section 14 and an indication element B of the first indication section corresponding to the element C have selectively been driven, the indicated time is 32 minutes past 8. Further, the respective indication elements 13a, 13b, of said second indication section 14 can be made to effect second indication upon receipt of a time counting output generated in the unit of seconds, and in FIG. 1 an indication element D indicates the lapse of 15 seconds.

The time counting section for supplying time counting outputs to said time indication section will hereinafter be described.

One clock pulse is generated per second from a clock pulse generator 16 and coupled to a 60-scale counter -l7. A count output generated per second from the counter 17 is supplied to a driver 27 via a decoder 21 and respective OR circuits 26a, 26b, of an OR circuit group 26, and count outputs from the driver 27 are supplied to the respective indication elements 13a, 13b, of said second indication section 14, thereby causing the indication elements to emit lights so as to effect second indication. A carry signal generated for every 60 seconds, i.e., per minute from the counter 17 is supplied as a count signal to a l2-scale counter 18. Further, a carry signal generated for every 12 minutes from the counter 18 is supplied as a count signal to a 5-scale counter 19. The l2-scale counter 18 and 5-scale counter 19 form the 60-scale counter 9, which is designed to generate a count output for each minute. Count outputs from the 60-scale counter 9 are supplied to a driver 25 via a decoder 22 and respective OR circuits 24a, 24b, of an OR circuit group 24, and count outputs from the driver 25 are coupled to the respective indication elements 11a, 11b, 11c, of said first indication section 12. Outputs from the decoder 22 are coupled to the respective gates of the OR circuits 24a,

24b, 24c, as described above and simultaneously are also coupled to the respective gates of the OR circuits 26a, 26b, 26c, of said OR circuit group 26. Accordingly, minute indication count outputs from said decoder 22 are coupled to the respective gates of the indication elements 13a, 13b, 13c, of said second indication section 14 via the driver 27, and a selected indication element of said first indication section 12 and the corresponding indication element of said second indication section 14 form a long hand to effect minute indication.

Carry signals from said l2-scale counter 18 are coupled to the 60-scale counter 20 to obtain hour counting outputs for step-advancing the counter 20 for every 12 minutes and completing one counting cycle in 60 steps, i.e., 720 minutes. The hour counting outputs are coupled to the respective indication elements of said first indication section 12 via a decoder 23 and the OR circuits 24a, 24b, and the driver 25 in the order mentioned, and the indication drive of these indication elements is advanced one step for every 12 minutes, and when the indication drive has been advanced five steps, the elements are made to indicate the lapse of 1 hour. With the indication element of this first indication section 12 taken as a short hand, hour indication is carried out. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 1, whereas the time counting section uses digital time counting signals, the time indication section can effect the display of the hour, minute and second in an analogue manner with short and long hands.

Even when the time counting section shown in FIG. 1 has such a construction as illustrated in FIG. 2, time counting outputs representing hour, minute and second can similarly be obtained. By outputs from a clock pulse generator 30, a 60-scale counter 31 performs its counting operation to supply for each second a count output therefrom to a decoder 32, said count output being used as a second indication output. A carry signal generated for every 60 seconds from said 60-scale counter 31 is supplied to a l2-scale counter 33, the carry signal generated for every twelve minutes from which is coupled to a S-scale counter 34. A count output produced for each minute from the l2-scale counter 33 and S-scale counter 34 is supplied to a decoder 35, said count output being used as a minute indication output. Carry signals from said S-scale counter 34 are coupled to a l2-scale counter 36, and a stepadvancing output generated for every twelve minutes from said 5-scale counter 34 and a step-advancing output produced for each hour from said 12-scale counter 36 are respectively supplied to a decoder 37, outputs from which are used as hour indication outputs. Count outputs from said decoders 32, 35 and 37 are coupled to the indication elements of the first and second indication sections 12 and 14 of FIG. 1 to carry out hour, minute and second indications. In this case, the same reference as in FIG. 1 can be made to a time indication section, and description thereof is therefore omitted.

A time counting section according to another embodiment of the invention will hereinafter be described by reference to FIG. 3.

A register 41 and an adder 42 form a counting circuit which performs a counting operation upon receipt of clock pulse outputs from a clock pulse generator 40 designed to generate a clock pulse for each second and forms a circulation circuit together with an AND circuit 43. Said circulation circuit performs its circulation operationwith a prescribed cycle in synchronism with a clock pulse generated for each second from said clock pulse generator 40. For example, second indication outputs from said adder 42 are coupled to the respective indication elements of the second indication section 14 shown in FIG. 1 via a buffer circuit 44 and decoder 45 in the order mentioned, and these selected, for example, liquid crystal-madeindication elements of the second indication section 14 are subjected to second indication drive-when the drive timing is taken upon receipt of outputs from said clock pulse generator 40. Next, when 60-step count outputs are produced from said decoder 45, a signal obtained therefrom for every 60 counts is controlled as a carry signal by a carry signal control circuit 46 and is sent to said adder 42 as a carry signal for minute indication. At this time, the circulation operation of said counting circuit is interrupted by an inverter circuit 47 connected to said AND circuit 43 and the content thereof is cleared to commence again the counting operation from 1. Similarly, an output generated for every 60 counts from said decoder 45 is caused to perform minute indication through the indication elements of said second indication section 14. At this time, the indication elements of the indication section 14 are driven depending upon the manner in which the timing of clock pulse outputs from said clock pulse generator 40 is determined. As above described, control is made by said carry signal control circuit 46 so as to generate carry signals corresponding in number to steps required for second, minute and hour indications. Accordingly, hour indication is effected by an indication element of the first indication section 12 in completely the same manner as heretofore described. In this case, the respective indicationdrive cycle in which the respective elements of the first and second indication sections 12 and 14, for indicating seconds, minutes and hours make their driving operation is determined by an output obtained from said decoder 45 for each time interval defined by a number of circulation times, i.e., the circulation cycles in which the counting circuit consisting of said register 41 and said adder 42 makes its circulation operation for each second upon receipt of clock pulses from said clock pulse generator 40. Accordingly, if, in case the respective indication elements of the indication sections 12 and 14 are driven as light emitting indication, the circulation cycles of thecounting circuit are properly increased in number, then the light emitting indication can be regarded as an image which seems to be continuously present on the display panel. Thus, the hour, minute and second indications are carried out on the display panel shown in FIG. 1 in an analogue manher.

The preceding embodiments referred to the case where a circular display panel 10 was used and where the indication elements for indicating hour, minute and second were arranged on circular loop lines. But, the display panel may assume such shapes as illustrated in FIGS. 4A to 4C, and these indication elements may be so arranged as to be positioned on elliptic loop lines and the rectangular shape of the indication elements may properly be modified, as illustrated in FlGS. 4A to 4C. Further, the shape of minute or second indication elements may not be rectangular but he dot-like, as shown in FIG. 4D. The point is that arrangement and shape of the indication elements can properly be so modified as to satisfy a time readers taste and sense from the standpoint of designs on the display panel.

I claim:

1. A time indication apparatus comprising:

a clock pulse generator;

time counting means controlled by outputs from said clock pulse generator to generate an output for each minute and an output for each hour, respectively;

a display panel;

a first indication section including a plurality of first indication elements arranged at intervals on a loop line on said display panel and in directions radially extending from the center of a space defined by the loop line;

first driver means coupled between said time counting means and said first indication section for driving at least one selected first indication element for effecting hour indication responsive to receipt of hour outputs from said time counting means;

a second indication section including a plurality of second indication elements arranged on lines extending in the identical radial directions as said first indication elements extend, said second indication elements being arranged about the peripheral portion of said first indication section, respective second indication elements corresponding to and being associated with each of said plurality of first indication elements; and

second driver means coupled between said time counting means and said second indication section for driving at least one selected second indication element, said at least one driven second indication element together with a driven first element cooperatively effecting minute indication responsive to receipt of minute outputs from said time counting means.

2. A time indication apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first and second indication sections each comprise a plurality of illuminable indication elements which are illuminated when driven by an associated driver means.

3. A time indication apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first driver means drives two of said first indication elements, one of said driven first indication elements effecting said hour indication and the other of said driven first indication elements being driven by said first driver means responsive to said minute outputs of said time counting means to effect said minute indication together with said driven second indication element.

4. A time indication apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said first indication elements are elongated elements extending in said radial directions. s

5. A time indication apparatus according to claim 4 wherein each of said second indication elements are elongated elements extending in said radial directions.

6. A time indication apparatus comprising:

a clock pulse generator;

time counting means controlled by outputs from said clock pulse generator to generate an output for each second, an output for each minute and an output for each hour, respectively;

a display panel;

a first indication section including a plurality of first indication elements arranged at intervals on a loop line on said display panel and in directions radially extending from the center of a space defined by the loop line;

first driver means coupled between said time counting means and said first indication section for driving at least one selected first indication element for effecting hour indication responsive to receipt of hour outputs from said time counting means; second indication section including a plurality of second indication elements arranged on lines extending in the identical radial directions as said first indication elements extend, said second indication elements being arranged about the peripheral portion of said first indication section, respective second indication elements corresponding to and being associated with each of said plurality of first indication elements; and second driver means coupled between said time counting means and said second indication section for driving said second indication elements for effecting second indication responsive to receipt of second outputs from said time counting means, and for effecting minute indication responsive to re ceipt of minute outputs from said time counting means, at least one driven second indication element, together with a driven first element cooperatively effecting said minute indication responsive to receipt of said minute outputs from said time counting means. 7. A time indication apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said first and second indication sections each comprise a plurality of illuminable indication elements which are illuminated when driven by an associated driver means.

8. A time indication apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said first driver means drives two of said first indication elements, one of said driven first indication elements effecting said hour indication and the other of said driven first indication elements being driven by said first driver means responsive to said minute outputs of said time counting means to effect said minute indication together with said driven second indication element.

9. A time indication apparatus according to claim 6 wherein each of said first indication elements are elongated elements extending in said radial directions.

10. A time indication apparatus according to claim 9 wherein each of said second indication elements are elongated elements extending in said radial directions.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Inventor s) TOSh i0 KASHIO It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On initial page of patent, add the priority data as follows:

--[30] Foreign Application Priority Data March 10, 1973 Japan .28238/73-;

Column 6, line 6, after "directions." delete "s" Signed and sealed this 18th day of March 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

C. MARSHALL DAN-N RUTH C. I-MSON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer and Trademarks FORM powso I uscoMM-oc suave-Pea ".5. GOVERNMENT PR'N'HNG OFFICE i9" O866-884.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Dated October 29, 1974 Patent No. 3 844,105

Inventor( TOShiO KASHIO It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On initial page of patent, add the priority data as follows:

Foreign Application Priority Data Japan .28238/73;

March 10, 1973 Column 6, line 6, after "directions." delete s" Signed and sealed this 18th day of March 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

C. MARSHALL DAN-N RUTH C. MASON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer and Trademarks F ORM PO-1 050 (10-69) u.s. Govnmuu'r rmmuc omc: nu o-su-:s4. 

1. A time indication apparatus comprising: a clock pulse generator; time counting means controlled by outputs from said clock pulse generator to generate an output for each minute and an output for each hour, respectively; a display panel; a first indication section including a plurality of first indication elements arranged at intervals on a loop line on said display panel and in directions radially extending from the center of a space defined by the loop line; first driver means coupled between said time counting means and said first indication section for driving at least one selected first indication element for effecting hour indication responsive to receipt of hour outputs from said time counting means; a second indication section including a plurality of second indication elements arranged on lines extending in the identical radial directions as said first indication elements extend, said second indication elements being arranged about the peripheral portion of said first indication section, respective second indication elements corresponding to and being associated with each of said plurality of first indication elements; and second driver means coupled between said time counting means and said second indication section for driving at least one selected second indication element, said at least one driven second indication element together with a driven first element cooperatively effecting minute indication responsive to receipt of minute outputs from said time counting means.
 2. A time indication apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first and second indication sections each comprise a plurality of illuminable indication elements which are illuminated when driven by an associated driver means.
 3. A time indication apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first driver means drives two of said first indication elements, one of said driven first indication elements effecting said hour indication and the other of said driven first indication elements being driven by said first driver means responsive to said minute outputs of said time counting means to effect said minute indication together with said driven second indication element.
 4. A time indication apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said first indication elements are elongated elements extending in said radial directions. s
 5. A time indication apparatus according to claim 4 wherein each of said second indication elements are elongated elements extending in said radial directions.
 6. A time indication apparatus comprising: a clock pulse generator; time counting means controlled by outputs from said clock pulse generator to generate an output for each second, an output for each minute and an output for each hour, respectively; a display panel; a first indication section including a plurality of first indication elements arranged at intervals on a loop line on said display panel and in directions radially extending from the center of a space defined by the loop line; first driver means coupled between said time counting means and said first indication section for driving at least one selected first indication element for effecting hour indication responsive to receipt of hour outputs from said time counting means; a second indication section including a plurality of second indication elements arranged on lines extending in the identical radial directions as said first indication elements extend, said second indication elements being arranged about the peripheral portion of said first indication section, respective second indication elements corresponding to and being associated with each of said plurality of first indication elements; and second driver means coupled between said time counting means and said second indication section for driving said second indication elements for effecting second indication responsive to receipt of second outputs from said time counting means, and for effecting minute indication responsive to receipt of minute outputs from said time counting means, at least one driven second indication element, together with a driven first element cooperatively effecting said minute indication responsive to receipt of said minute outputs from said time counting means.
 7. A time indication apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said first and second indication sections each comprise a plurality of illuminable indication elements which are illuminated when driven by an associated driver means.
 8. A time indication apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said first driver means drives two of said first indication elements, one of said driven first indication elements effecting said hour indication and the other of said driven first indication elements being driven by said first driver means responsive to said minute outputs of said time counting means to effect said minute indication together with said driven second indication element.
 9. A time indication apparatus according to claim 6 wherein each of said first indication elements are elongated elements extending in said radial directions.
 10. A time indication apparatus according to claim 9 wherein each of said second indication elements are elongated elements extending in said radial directions. 